Safety device for point-switches.



No. 867,709. PATENTBD new. a, 1907.

. L.DUNN.

SAFETY DEVICE FOR POINT SWITCHES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR- 15, 1807.

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L. DUNN. SAFETY DEVICE FOR POINT SWITCHES.

APPLICATION FILED MAE.15, 1907.

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PATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS DUNN, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA.

SAFETY DEVICE FOR FOINT-SWITOHES.

Application filed March 15, 1907. Serial No- 362,436. 5

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, Louis DUNN, of St. Paul, Ramsey county, Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Safety Devices for Point- Switches, 'of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to improve the switch device shown and described in Letters Patent of the United States, No. 698,108, issued to me April 22, 1902.

The invention consists generally in providing a switch point for the sidetrack, that is movable independently of the main line point so that in setting the switch for the siding it is necessary not only to move the main line point a predetermined distance, but the side track point must be moved also and independently of the other point.

Further, the invention consists in means for tripping the switch stand lever to allow the points to be set for the main track in case the switch should accidentally be left set in a neutral position or for the siding by the crew of a preceding train.

Further, the invention consists in various constructions and combinations, all as hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a plan view of a section of track and a switch with my invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view on the line xx of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line yy of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a detail view on. the line 2-2 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the mechanism for operating the side track point. Fig. 6 is a detail view illustrating the mechanism for tripping the switch stand lever. Fig. 7 is a detail view of the oscillating bar interposed between the switch points and the switch stand.

In the drawing, 3 and 4 represent the rails of the main track and 6 and 7 the corresponding rails of the side track.

2 and 5 represent the outer or stock rails, the rail 2 being in line with the outer rail 3 of the main track, and the rail 5 forming a continuation of the rail 7 of the side track.

10 and 11 represent the movable points arranged in the usual manner.

12 is a tie rod similar to the one shown' in my Patent No. 749,275, issued January 12th, 1904. 13 is a plate, also shown in said patent, and 14 is a spring device that normally tends to draw the side track point 10 away from the rail 2. This device is also illustrated in my patent last referred to.

15 is a bar pivoted at one end on the tie 16 and arranged to oscillate in a horizontal plane, and connected at a/point near its pivot by a tie rod 17 with the main track point 11. The middle portion of the oscillating bar is connected by a rod 18 with a crank shaft 19 that,

is mounted in the switch stand 20 in the usual way.

An arm 21 is secured on the crank shaft and an operat- Specification of Letters Patent.

Fig. 1.

Patented Oct. 8, 1907.

ing lever 22 is pivoted on said arm and adapted to drop into notches 23 in the top of the stand to lock the switch in the desired position. A rod 24 is pivotally connected at one end by a coupling 24 to the bar 15 and extends under the rails and switch points, and has a sliding connection with the point 1.0 by means of a slot 25 in the end of the rod 24 and the bracket 26 secured to the point. This slot is made of the proper length so that the main line point will travel a predetermined 'distance, in this case 3 inches, independently of the side.

switch will be the same, and their relative positions with respect to the track rails will be as indicated in This I prefer to designate as the neutral position of the points, being set neither for the main line or the siding.

The switchman having thrown a switch is required by the rules to cross the track and stand on the opposite side from the stand and give the necessary signal for the train to enter the siding. At the point where the switchman usually stations himself to give the signal, I provide a crank shaft 27 supported in bearings 28 and connected by a rod 29 with the side track switch point 10. A lever 30 is secured to one end of said crank shaft and has a sliding extension 31 provided with a handle portion 32 and a part 33 that engages and trips a dog 34 mounted on the lever 30 and having an end to engage a plate 35 and lock the side track point in contact with the rail to set the switch for the siding. This contact will be against the tension of the spring 14 which normally holds the point away from the rail. The movement of the point against the rail by the rocking of the shaft 27 will be the final step in the operation of setting the switch for the siding and it will be necessary for the switchman to perform this operation to be able -to direct the train from the main to the side track.

The lever 30 and its extension will normally be in the position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2, and be raised to the position indicated in full lines, by the movement of the switch stand rod in the first step of setting the switch for the siding. In this full line position the sliding extension of the lever 30 will be within convenient reach of the switchman and can be easily thrown by him to the dotted line position of Fig. 3 to set the point 10 up against the rail. When the train has passed the switch the sliding extension will be dropped and upon striking the dog 34 the crank shaft will be released and the point allowed to return to the position shown in Fig. 1. In some instances the switclnnan might leave the switch without throwing the stand lever back to its normal position and leaving the points as shown in Fig. 1. In that case I prefer to provide means whereby a train approaching the switch will trip the stand lever and allow the main track point to move back against its rail and set the switch for the main track. This de vice consists preferably, of a rod 36 having a sliding connection at one end by means of a slot 37 and pin 38 with the crank shaft 27. The rod extends under the rails and has an upwardly curved end 39 which projects through a hole in one of the track rails and is yieldingly held against disengagement therefrom by a spring 40. A latch 41 is pivoted on the end 39 and is yieldingly held against the side of the rail and projecting above the same, by the tension of the spring 40. Normally this latch is in the path of the wheel. When, however, the lever 30 is thrown to the position indicated in dotted lines to set the switch for the siding, the latch device 41 will be moved away from the rail out of the path of the wheels. As seen, however, as the dog 34 is tripped and the side track point released the latch will be returned to its normal position against the rail, where it will be struck by the wheels of an approaching train.

A flexible connection such as a chain 42, connects the latch 41 with a tripping arm 43 pivoted at 44 on the switch stand and adapted to engage the lever 22 and throw it out of its notch in the stand and thereby release the main track point and permit it to be swung back against the rail to set the switch for the main track. When, therefore, a switchman leaves the switch set as indicated in Fig. 1, an approaching train striking the latch device will disengage the switch lever and allow the points to be set for the main track as the train passes over the switch. To obtain the desired movement I prefer to interpose a bell crank 45 in the connection between the tripping latch and the switch stand lever. As indicated in Fig. 7 the edges of the bar 15 are preferably roughened to prevent the connections from slipping thereon, and the couplings between the rods 17 and 24 and said bar being adjustable toward or from the pivot of the bar, it is evident that I can very easily regulate the stroke of the rods 17 and 24 according to the movement desired of the switch points.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a switch, the combination, with the track rails, of the movable main and side track points, means for moving said points simultaneously a predetermined distance, and means for moving the side track point the remainder of its stroke independently of the other point, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with the track rails, of the movable main and side track points, a switch stand having an operating lever, and a rod connected with said points for operating them simultaneously, and means located on the opposite side of the track from said switch stand for moving said side track point against its rail independently of the movement of the other point.

3. The combination, with the track rails, of the movable main and side track points, a switch stand and its lever, a bar pivoted at one end and connected at an intermediate point to said lever; means connecting said bar with said points, the connection with said main track point being nearer the pivot of said bar than the connection with said side track point, whereby the travel of said main track point will be less than that of the other point, and means for moving said side track point a predetermined distance independently of said main track point.

4. The combination, with the track rails, of the main and side track points, a switch stand having an operating lever, a rod connected with said lever, mechanism connecting said rods with said points and whereby the side track point is permitted to travel :1 greaier distance than the main track point, and means for operating said side track point independently of said main track point.

5. The combination, with the tr: .1: rails, of (he nnlin and side track points, a switch stand mechanism for operating said points simultaneously to move the main track point away from its rail and the side track point toward its rail to set the switch for the siding, and mechanism located on the opposite side of the track from said switch stand and comprising a rock shaft and operating lever therefor, and a rod connecting said rock shaft with said side track point for moving it against its rail to complete the operation of setting the switch for the side track.

6. The combination, with the main track rails, of the main and side track points, a switch stand mechanism connected with said points, spring devices for normally holding said points in position to set the switch for the main track, said spring devices being put under tension by the operation of the switch stand mechanism to set the points in a neutral position, and mechanism located on the opposite side of the track from the switch stand for moving the side track point against its rail independently of the main track point, substantially as described.

7. The combination, with the track rails, of the main and side track points, a switch stand connected with said points for operating the same, spring devices for normally holding said points in position to set the switch for the main track, said side track points having a movement independent of the movement of said main track point, a rock shaft connected with said side track point, a lever mounted on said rock shaft and having a sliding extension, a dog arranged to lock said side track point in contact with its rail against the tension of said spring device, and said dog being tripped when said sliding extension of said lever is released to allow said side track point to he returned automatically to its neutral position.

8. The combination, with the track rails, of the main and side track points, a switch stand mechanism connected with said points to operate them simultaneously a predetermined distance, means for moving said side track point independently of said main track point to a position in contact with its rail, spring devices adapted to hold said switch points set for the main track and said switch stand mechanism having a locking device for holding said points against the tension of said spring devices, and a tripping mechanism arranged to be actuated by an approaching train for releasing said lock device and allowing said spring device to return said points to a neutral position.

9. The combination, with the track rails, oi the main and side track points, a switch stand mechanism having an operating lever and means for locking the same, means connecting said switch stand mechanism with said points, spring devices for normally holding said points set for the main track, said side track points being movable in dependently of said main track point, mechanism on the opposite side of the track from the switch stand for moving said side track point to set the switch for the side track, and comprising a rock shaft connected with said switch point, and an operating lever, and a trip device also connected with said rock shaft and in the path of an approaching train, and means connecting said trip device with said switch stand lever, whereby it the points are left in a neutral position said switch stand lever will he released to allow said points to be set for the main track by the passage of the train over the switch.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 6th day of March, 1907.

LOUI S DUNN.

Witnesses RICHARD PAUL, J. B, ERA. 

